ir ##fb ) . following a disputed try in an england – scotland international match in 1888 , the scottish authorities had pushed for the establishment of an international body to oversee the game , but the rf ##u insisted that they would only join if they held a deciding vote , arguing that they deserved this as they were , they asserted , the senior body , and had the most member clubs . ireland , wales and scotland consequently refused to play against england until 1891 , when , following arbitration , the rf ##u re ##lent ##ed and joined the ir ##fb . the absence of international matches was a factor in england agreeing to face the natives on 16 february 1889 . the line
irfb ). following a disputed try in an england – scotland international match in 1888, the scottish authorities had pushed for the establishment of an international body to oversee the game, but the rfu insisted that they would only join if they held a deciding vote, arguing that they deserved this as they were, they asserted, the senior body, and had the most member clubs. ireland, wales and scotland consequently refused to play against england until 1891, when, following arbitration, the rfu relented and joined the irfb. the absence of international matches was a factor in england agreeing to face the natives on 16 february 1889. the line